To those of you who have been following my ordeal as the victim of identity theft,  which I updated several weeks ago, there’s good news to report. I finally received my 2007 federal income tax refund from the IRS. Yes, the case is closed after15 months, a nightmare that began when some crook got hold of my name and Social Security number, and e-filed a fraudulent 1040 tax return claiming a refund for thousands of dollars.

The check arrived this week, via regular mail, in a plain-brown envelope, with a return address for the U.S. Treasury Department. I wasn’t expecting any fanfare, streamers, fireworks, or marching bands. But I was expecting a letter, at least, with some sort of denouement or explanation, not merely a check.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m grateful to finally get the check; in fact, I ran to the bank as fast as I could to cash it. But I really wanted to know the results of the IRS probe that has consumed my life for the better part of a year. Did the Feds bust the apartment in New York City that the scammers listed as “my” return address? Was the place a boiler room where evildoers ran a sophisticated scheme to snatch the identities of countless other victims?  Were any arrests made and charges filed? I’m ready to testify.

“You’ll probably never know,” my IRS-appointed tax advocate stated matter-of-factly during a phone conversation this morning. “I’ll probably never know either,” she added. “All I can say is that the IRS will pursue the matter.”

So to paraphrase singer Peggy Lee, that’s all there is. It’s a done deal. But not quite. 

Just before she hung up the phone, my advocate reminded me that the refund check contained an interest payment from the IRS in the amount of $261.43, for holding onto my money for so long. “That’s taxable,” she reminded me. “Be sure to declare it on your 2009 income tax return.”

Sears can’t deliver washing machine for several weeks; the deal is dead

The other day, I excitedly shared my experience getting a fantastic deal on a new GE washing machine by taking advantage of retailer price-matching programs.

Ultimately, I decided to buy a top-rated washer from Sears instead of a locally-based retailer primarily because the mega chain agreed to match the sale price of a local appliance chain and fork over 10 percent of the difference between the two prices.

When I drove to Sears to do the paperwork, the sales clerk gave me a revised (translation: delayed) delivery date of May 16, at the earliest, which I thought was too long to wait. So, I walked out and returned to the local dealer, which had the lowest price in the first place. 

Not only was the dealer willing to deliver my new washer next week, but she informed me of a special store rebate for additional $100 savings, bringing the total cost of the washer to $593 – nearly $100 lower than Sears, which didn’t offer a rebate.  Maybe I should have heeded the advice from all you folks who urged me to buy local in the first place!